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Given that Erik Dekker's hematocrit case was earlier, no I don't know where he got that sudden potential at age 30. The phenomenon of the late bloomer doesn't necessarily have something to do with clinic issues.

Given that Erik Dekker's hematocrit case was earlier, no I don't know where he got that sudden potential at age 30. The phenomenon of the late bloomer doesn't necessarily have something to do with clinic issues.

Scarponi also improved after his doping case.

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Quote:

Originally Posted by Ryo Hazuki

horrible. boonen just the same guy as years before and this course is too hard for him. that's why he rode like a coward there were at least 3 guys stronger than boonen today and none of them won: sagan, ballan, pozzato

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Hitch

Goss will woop boonens candy ass in a sprint he cares about, any day of the week

I thought you knew about his Ferrari visit. But I don't necessarily disagree with what you said. He most likely doped for most of his career, but that doesn't exclude the fact that he could've been a late bloomer. Was fighting with mostly equal weapons anyway.

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Quote:

Originally Posted by Ryo Hazuki

horrible. boonen just the same guy as years before and this course is too hard for him. that's why he rode like a coward there were at least 3 guys stronger than boonen today and none of them won: sagan, ballan, pozzato

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Hitch

Goss will woop boonens candy ass in a sprint he cares about, any day of the week

Devolders wins in the Ronde weren't lucky, they were smart and tactical. It's not like there is a dozen riders who could have easily pulled off the same, had they been Boonen's teammate.

He was lucky to be in that position, though. Extremely lucky. They were strong efforts, but we all know he would have won exactly zero times had he not been Boonen's teammate. At least Nuyens battled it out with the top guys.

__________________"The likelihood of cheats succeeding in the London Olympics is somewhat remote." - David Howman, WADA Director General

Dekker E. turned pro in Raas's teams. He's not a late bloomer, he already was seen as an up-and-coming talent. I very well remember his days with Word Perfect. He also was a good flyers under the red flame. Some sort of a Jelle Nijdam/Willy Teirlinck (kind of riders that I really love )

Only you've gotta remember what Van Hooydonck said about Raas's teams. No EPO.

EVH retired in March 1996, disgusted and one year later, the UCI implemented its first blood tests. Everything changed and all of sudden (Raas's) Rabobank started winning again...

He was lucky to be in that position, though. Extremely lucky. They were strong efforts, but we all know he would have won exactly zero times had he not been Boonen's teammate. At least Nuyens battled it out with the top guys.

With Devolder in another team, Boonen still had Pipo 'the shadow' on his wheel. Devolder could almost as easily use their rivalry as he used the fact that he was teammate of Boonen. Getting away would be a little bit harder, but if he really wanted it, I wonder if Pipo and Boonen really would have chased them with more then 30k to go. Devolder attacked early both times remember.
However, Boonen would have chased him from 20k or something. What happened in that scenario, no one knows. I think Devolder, who was at least the 3rd strongest man in the race both years, used very good tactics and was at least one of the strongest.
The same goes for Nuyens. He was at least one of the best in the race. Racers who maybe where stronger (Chavanel, Cancellara) used lesser tactics so a very derserved win. Other riders couldn't make the jump on the flat to Meerbeke.